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06-20-2010, 02:36 PM
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#1
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4 Rivet Member
1996 34' Excella
Americus
, Georgia
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 317
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GM 5.3 owners ??
I have a 2004 Suburban that has a 5.3 engine with 90,000 miles on it. it has just started using oil between changes I am adding a quart at 2,000 miles and I have also noticed at different times a puff of blue smoke at start up. The engine runs excellent with no knocks but has just started this oil consumption.I change the oil every 4,000 miles since it is a daily driver for the wife. Anybody got any ideas on what could be going on ? Thanks
__________________
1991 Airstream Excella 1000 34ft (SOLD)
1994 Chevrolet Crew Cab dually 2WD 6.5td
2005 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 2WD 5.3
WBCCI # 10219 Georgia Unit
AIR # 5131
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06-20-2010, 02:42 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1972 Argosy 20
Middletown
, New Jersey
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 589
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Davis
I have a 2004 Suburban that has a 5.3 engine with 90,000 miles on it. it has just started using oil between changes I am adding a quart at 2,000 miles and I have also noticed at different times a puff of blue smoke at start up. The engine runs excellent with no knocks but has just started this oil consumption.I change the oil every 4,000 miles since it is a daily driver for the wife. Anybody got any ideas on what could be going on ? Thanks
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My first instinct is to think valve guides and/or seals, but I could be very wrong. It's really impossible to tell without doing some diagnostic checks...
__________________
Bob Fowler
Some people are like Slinkies. They're really good for nothing, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
TAC - NJ-007
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06-20-2010, 02:43 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1972 Argosy 20
Middletown
, New Jersey
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 589
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I should add that the 5.7L in my '99 'Burb is starting to use oil as well, but it's the rear seal that's starting to go.
__________________
Bob Fowler
Some people are like Slinkies. They're really good for nothing, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
TAC - NJ-007
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06-20-2010, 03:05 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1967 26' Overlander
Huntsville
, Alabama
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,018
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It's the seals.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobfowler
My first instinct is to think valve guides and/or seals, but I could be very wrong. ...
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Me too. But I think bobfowler is closer to right than wrong.
Tom
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06-20-2010, 03:09 PM
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#5
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4 Rivet Member
1996 34' Excella
Americus
, Georgia
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 317
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I have not seen any oil leaks on the engine exterior so i guess the problem would be internal unless if there is some type of sensor that could cause this.
__________________
1991 Airstream Excella 1000 34ft (SOLD)
1994 Chevrolet Crew Cab dually 2WD 6.5td
2005 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 2WD 5.3
WBCCI # 10219 Georgia Unit
AIR # 5131
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06-20-2010, 03:15 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1967 26' Overlander
Huntsville
, Alabama
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,018
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Lost cause
Quote:
Originally Posted by Davis
I have not seen any oil leaks on the engine exterior so i guess the problem would be internal unless if there is some type of sensor that could cause this.
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Nope - It is a mechanical issue.
Tom
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06-21-2010, 01:52 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2005 25' Safari
Salem
, Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,378
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Davis
I have a 2004 Suburban that has a 5.3 engine with 90,000 miles on it. it has just started using oil between changes I am adding a quart at 2,000 miles and I have also noticed at different times a puff of blue smoke at start up. The engine runs excellent with no knocks but has just started this oil consumption.I change the oil every 4,000 miles since it is a daily driver for the wife. Anybody got any ideas on what could be going on ? Thanks
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Hi, with bad valve seals you will notice smoke at start up, smoke when coasting down hill, and oil fouled spark plugs. If your valve guides are worn out, new seals won't help. Need to repair or replace the heads. On the other hand, oil is cheap compared to engine repair. [keep it full]
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
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06-21-2010, 02:00 AM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
1970 27' Overlander
Sumner
, Washington
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 113
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Bfowler is right Davis, it's the valve guides. When they wear out, after you turn the engine off and it sits over night a bit of oil slides past the guides and drips into the combustion chamber. When you start the engine, poof, the oil burns off. Yes you could rebuild the heads, I have a 1989 Burban that has 130,000 on it, it started doing the same thing about a year ago. It uses about one qt of oil between 3000 oil change. To me, this is not bad.
I change the plugs about once a year. Runs fine.....
Or, spend the money.......Good old Chevys, run forever....
__________________
Favorite Bumper sticker:
Yes, this is my truck...
No, I won't help you move....
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06-21-2010, 04:10 AM
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#9
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4 Rivet Member
1996 34' Excella
Americus
, Georgia
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 317
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Thanks for the replies. I agree 1 qt of oil between oil changes is cheaper than rebuilding the heads and risking something else to be torn up during the repair since it still runs excellent.
I have always faithfully change the oil at 4,000 miles and I don`t understand why this has happened. Are the 5.3`s prone to this ?
I do know that some of the early 5.3`s had a piston slap problem but mine does not have it thank goodness. Thanks Davis
__________________
1991 Airstream Excella 1000 34ft (SOLD)
1994 Chevrolet Crew Cab dually 2WD 6.5td
2005 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 2WD 5.3
WBCCI # 10219 Georgia Unit
AIR # 5131
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06-21-2010, 07:56 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2011 34' Classic
Westchester Cty.NY
, / Miami FL
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,122
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heat and time stiffen the seals. i know that on older chevy engines, if the guides are good, just the seals can be changed without removing the heads from the engine. i don't know if it still applies.
__________________
Ricky
2012 F150 Super Crew 5-1/2' bed Ecoboost 4x4 3.73 elec. lock diff. Propride hitch
give life. kidney & pancreas transplant 9/9/06
Ingrid-my unofficial '"World's Oldest Streamer" 1909-2008 R.I.P.
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06-21-2010, 08:55 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2005 25' Safari
Trabuco Canyon
, California
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 866
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I suspect valve guides/seals. You can try one of the "high mileage" oils. They're a little higher viscosity in the grade, and have more seal conditioners in it. Probably won't change it much but could help a little. I'd let it go until it worsens, fails a smog test, or you notice a misfire after long downhill compression braking. It may go a long time just as it is.
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